http://www.ofb.biz/safari/ Commentary, reviews and instructive articles on current events, technology, philosophy, religion, politics and other relevant matters. en-us http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/782.html Dennis E. Powell The sun rose gloriously over the hill. A few wisps of fog floated down by the creek and there was just the tiniest bit of frost on the tulips. What a good day, I thought, to consider Google. I don’t know for certain that Google is now evil, but I bet that if it isn’t it soon will be. ... Wed, 16 May 2012 4:36:4 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/781.html Jason Kettinger Sports and sports journalism are replete with overwrought praise, military imagery, and hero worship. I get that. I’m a theologian; when the excesses of this sort of thing get really out of hand, few feel worse about it than me. But I’ll take the risk now, and I won’t dare try t... Tue, 1 May 2012 2:2:49 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/780.html Dennis E. Powell A few years ago a lady of my acquaintance, the wife of a colleague, suffered terribly from arthritis. The only thing that was effective at relieving her pain was a product called Vioxx. Sat, 21 April 2012 3:30:19 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/779.html Timothy R. Butler Have you ever had the experience where you had a conversation that seemed relatively ordinary until after the fact? Most of us have experienced this sort of retroactively meaning in our lives. Life would be different now, because what was normal ended. Mon, 9 April 2012 14:24:23 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/778.html Dennis E. Powell Have you ever read the Bill of Rights? It is one of the foundational documents of our nation, put there to place limits on the power of the government. It specifies rights that are so fundamental that the even the government has no authority to deny or abridge them. Sat, 24 March 2012 21:12:34 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/777.html Jason Kettinger On the very day that nice guy and legendary trainer Angelo Dundee — in the corner with Ali, Foreman, and Sugar Ray Leonard — died, it was announced that the troubled fighter with arguably the fastest hands in all of boxing, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., has been licensed to fight in Las Vega... Thu, 22 March 2012 4:47:56 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/776.html Dennis E. Powell The first time I met Father Marty he was sweeping the hallway near the entrance of the parish hall behind his church, Christ the King. He greeted me warmly. It could be that he knows other greetings, but a cordial welcome with a genuine smile is the only kind I’ve ever seen. It is engaging,... Sun, 4 March 2012 22:13:33 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/775.html Jason Kettinger In my last installment, I threatened to let an ‘80s teen idol return to rock us. It was difficult to acquire the material for my subject until I found our friends at Spotify. In any case, I knew that I’d heard things I liked from an artist one might be tempted to dismiss: Rick Springf... Fri, 24 February 2012 16:58:5 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/774.html Dennis E. Powell It’s only January, but if you’re like me you’re already sick of the election which is still more than nine months away. Our political system is in permanent campaign mode. But we’re not selecting a president, we’re selecting a celebrity. It’s not something we c... Wed, 8 February 2012 7:22:6 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/773.html Amy Petery Droves of male students were flocking to a meeting on campus during my first year in seminary. I do not remember what it was called, but it had to do with why there aren’t more men in churches. I walked alongside one male friend who was all pumped up about the event; he was commenting about... Tue, 7 February 2012 7:20:41 GMT